COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT

Almost everyone uses a nootropic, whether they know it or not. The most popular and widely consumed nootropic is caffeine, and while it can have health risks if you overdo it, this natural stimulant has been shown to improve thinking skills. It doesn't simply make you feel more alert, caffeine also gives you more access to several chemicals (neurotransmitters) in your brain such as acetylcholine, which helps with short-term memory and learning.

 

But most people interested in nootropics aren't looking for coffee or tea. They’re branching out to dietary supplements such as ginseng and gingko, which have not held up to scientific scrutiny. Yet others -- including CDP-choline, L-theanine, creatine monohydrate, Bacopa monnieri, huperzine A, and vinpocetine -- may still hold promise.

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Racetams, such as piracetam, are another type of nootropic. You can get these synthetic compounds over the counter in the U.S., but they’re considered prescription drugs in some other countries. These chemicals, which act on neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, have been studied in older adults who have a decline in thinking skills. 

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Below are some of the most commonly prescribed nootropics that Pinnacle is proud to offer in our treatment protocols:

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• Adderall - a prescription medication that contains highly stimulating amphetamines. It’s most commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, but it’s increasingly taken by healthy adults to improve attention and focus (64Trusted Source). Adderall works by increasing the availability of the brain chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline within your prefrontal cortex, an area of your brain that controls working memory, attention and behavior (65Trusted Source). The amphetamines found in Adderall make people feel more awake, attentive and optimistic. They also reduce appetite.

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• Dihexa - a peptide with beneficial nootropic properties. Researchers specifically developed it to treat traumatic brain disorders including Alzheimer’s. It’s also called PNB-0408 and N-hexanoic-Tyr-ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide. Reports state that Dihexa is ten million times stronger than brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). It’s a natural peptide that works by stimulating your brain’s neurotransmitters. This peptide has positive neurogenic properties. It binds well to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). It also shows beneficial binding interactions with HGF’s receptor, c-Met. Scientists derived Dihexa from angiotensin IV. This metabolite is part of the brain’s Renin–Angiotensin System (RAS).  Studies show that it enhances memory and learning by improving recall, consolidation, and acquisition. Dihexa is among the best peptides for brain function, as it could also aid in forming synapses. It may create new neuronal connections. Some doctors use it to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease as there is also evidence to suggest it repairs some forms of brain damage related to nerve cells. Users typically report improved problem-solving skills, increased mental endurance, and faster reaction times. 

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• Epithalon - excellent anti-aging and nootropic peptide. It’s a synthetic form of the Epithalamin polypeptide, which the pineal gland produces. It helps to normalize the anterior pituitary’s function, leading to improved cognition and regulates gonadotropin levels in the body boosting cognitive performance.

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• Modafinil (Provigil) - originally developed to treat narcolepsy, however it is widely used off-license as a ‘smart drug’ to promote cognitive enhancement, where qualities such as alertness and concentration are desired to assist someone with, for example, exam preparation.  Past studies on sleep-deprived individuals have shown a strong positive effect of modafinil on these functions, but there has been less attention and scientific consensus on the drug’s overall effectiveness as a cognitive enhancer in people that are not sleep-deprived – presumably the majority of people taking it. Now, a new systematic review, published online in the peer-reviewed journal European Neuropsychopharmacology shows that modafinil does indeed confer significant cognitive benefits in this group.

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• NAD+ - often referred to as the "Miracle Molecule," NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in all living cells that is essential in key physiological processes in our bodies. As we age, however, NAD+ production decreases, leading to mental and physical fatigue as well as illness and disease. Through NAD+ supplementation, we are able to combat these effects. NAD+ therapy has a tremendous amount of benefits that include warding off neurodegenerative disease like dementia and Alzheimer's, reducing inflammation, improving cognitive function, boosting energy levels, improving sleep quality, and many, many more. 

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• Selank - improves learning, memory, cognition, depression, and energy.

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• Semax - enhances cognitive function resulting in increased attention span, focus & better memory.

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  At Pinnacle Performance Health & Wellness our medical team will work to provide the best cognitive enhancement protocol for YOU! Click below for a FREE consultation and to speak to one of our team members for more information!